Another GHA thread - need advice!

[Phildago]

I used reef Flux and changed 10% water daily..adding reef Flux to replace the dose in the new water each day. It ended up costing a little bit more but it decimated the GHA and it never came back.

Basically I killed it all while removing any spike in nutrients throughout

 

[hllb]

I used reef Flux and changed 10% water daily..adding reef Flux to replace the dose in the new water each day. It ended up costing a little bit more but it decimated the GHA and it never came back.

Basically I killed it all while removing any spike in nutrients throughout

If I had seen more than one quarter sized tuft that lightened in color, I may have tried again with Reef Flux. But was shocked, after reading all the success stories, that it did nothing for my tank. Maybe I'll get lucky and the sea hare will be magic. He spent all evening last night traveling around the rock I put him on. Couldn't find him this morning when the lights were off, so I'll see where he is when I get home. Cute little guy, and fun to watch. Too bad he needs to leave once the algae is gone.

 

[hllb]

I appreciate all the suggestions. I'm keeping the list of them. Manual removal has so far been ineffective, unfortunately.

 

[Phildago]

Sea hare is a good option. Slightly more dangerous than the reef Flux I think.

Maybe it's possible that you got a bunk supply? I can only speak for what I've done, but it literally disintegrated the GHA in my case. Like it didn't stand half a chance. So if it's not working at all for you, there's something off. If it worked half as well, I'd think maybe modify and try again.. but not at all means it either wasn't Flucanazole, or it was wayyyyy under dosed.

 

[sde1500]

I appreciate all the suggestions. I'm keeping the list of them. Manual removal has so far been ineffective, unfortunately.

You're barely over a month into the fight. I wouldn't call that ineffective, I'd call it you not giving it enough time. Not saying it that way to be rude, but cleaning up major outbreaks take time, outside of extremely aggressive tactics. If you want it gone in a day, pull all the rock and wash it peroxide, just the 3% stuff works fine. Don't get it on the corals though, outside of zoas I don't think they handle it well. Literally pour it over the rocks, and scrub them down. Then rescape. It will kill it fast. But be ready to continue to clean them, along with aggressive methods of nutrient control, which, based on time line you gave earlier you didn't keep up with after the Reef flux dosing. Otherwise, it is slow and steady, manage nutrients, manually remove, let the CUC work.

 

[hllb]

Sea hare is a good option. Slightly more dangerous than the reef Flux I think.

Maybe it's possible that you got a bunk supply? I can only speak for what I've done, but it literally disintegrated the GHA in my case. Like it didn't stand half a chance. So if it's not working at all for you, there's something off. If it worked half as well, I'd think maybe modify and try again.. but not at all means it either wasn't Flucanazole, or it was wayyyyy under dosed.

I wondered if I got a bad batch too. Definitely not underdosed. I have a 32g tank with maybe 27g water volume. Over 3 weeks, I dosed all 10 capsules (though after the first 4, put carbon back in so that probably pulled those out. dumb move...). But then dosed 3 and a week or week and half later, 3 more. Still nothing.

 

[hllb]

You're barely over a month into the fight. I wouldn't call that ineffective, I'd call it you not giving it enough time. Not saying it that way to be rude, but cleaning up major outbreaks take time, outside of extremely aggressive tactics. If you want it gone in a day, pull all the rock and wash it peroxide, just the 3% stuff works fine. Don't get it on the corals though, outside of zoas I don't think they handle it well. Literally pour it over the rocks, and scrub them down. Then rescape. It will kill it fast. But be ready to continue to clean them, along with aggressive methods of nutrient control, which, based on time line you gave earlier you didn't keep up with after the Reef flux dosing. Otherwise, it is slow and steady, manage nutrients, manually remove, let the CUC work.

Actually, almost 3 months into the fight (from mid November). Tried natural methods first, to no avail. I can't pull the two worst rocks, because I have so many critters living in them, including my fish. I pulled them very briefly trying to catch a crab and nearly killed 3 fish...one I'm surprised made it, but he healed (he either got crushed at some point, or beat himself up while inside the rock when it was out of water for a few minutes).

 

[hllb]

But be ready to continue to clean them, along with aggressive methods of nutrient control, which, based on time line you gave earlier you didn't keep up with after the Reef flux dosing.

What do you mean by that? You aren't supposed to change water during reef flux treatment so I didn't. Following the directions is bad? I just did the WC after reef flux this weekend. Then did another the next day. Will do another tomorrow (need to make some more water tonight)

 

[Phildago]

I seriously doubt that the carbon wouldve pulled it out that quickly. The sea hare may do the job, but may not be a permanent solution to this. I would recommend staying the course with the sea hare, but at the first sign of GHA returning hit it hard with a different brand. You can look online for veterinary flucanazole, or if you know somebody who has been prescribed diflucan for a yeast/fungal infection and has some left over it can be used.

 

[dadnjesse]

I also used Reef Flux. It took a few weeks. I did a few water changes and re dosed every time. I have been GHA free for 6 months.

 

[Cory]

Its an ecosystem and algaes going to grow. Get a sea urchin. It will eat that in a few days. Then feed it sinking algae wafers or nori. Diademas are best.

 

[hllb]

Its an ecosystem and algaes going to grow. Get a sea urchin. It will eat that in a few days. Then feed it sinking algae wafers or nori. Diademas are best.

My urchin wouldn't touch it....not one bite. He did love my coralline algae though. It was a Halloween urchin.

 

[sde1500]

Almost nothing eats it when it is super long. If it just barely covers the rock urchins, turbos, sea hares all should munch on it.

 

[hllb]

Almost nothing eats it when it is super long. If it just barely covers the rock urchins, turbos, sea hares all should munch on it.

It wasn't long when I put all those critters in. They still didn't touch it. No idea why. I've just had a sea hare for 2 days now, so we'll see if he does anything.

 

[Cory]

Yes black diademas are the best. On the reef they are the primary controllers of algae and parrot fish. When urchins are absent algae grows like mad. My diademas ate that long algae.

 

[Cory]

The other option is to shade the rock structure with a large plating coral. But it may be hard in your case.